As students return to school, many parents are considering how much screen time is appropriate for their children. Digital devices have become important in education, but pediatric neurologists caution that too much screen use—especially for recreation—can affect brain development.
Jane Tavyev Asher, MD, director of the Division of Pediatric Neurology at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s, discussed the topic with the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom. She explained that recommendations for screen time vary by age. “Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics had fairly strict guidelines: no screen time at all for children under age 2, and minimal exposure for ages 2 to 5. Ideally, screen time should be under an hour a day. For ages 5 to 11 and older, less than two hours per day,” said Asher.
She noted that while these guidelines shifted somewhat during the pandemic due to increased online learning and socializing, research still supports limiting daily screen time for older children to less than two hours. Going beyond this amount has been linked to higher risks of anxiety and depression.
For very young children, Asher emphasized that brains under age three are in a critical stage of development. “The general consensus among developmental pediatricians is that children under age 3 should have little to no screen exposure. That’s because their brains are in a critical stage of development, with key processes like myelination, the biological process that speeds up the nerve transmission to the brain, and neural pathway formation actively taking place,” she said.
She added that too much screen exposure can overstimulate areas of the brain responsible for processing images while limiting development in regions important for language and social skills. “Ideally, we want their early learning to be grounded in real-world, interactive face-to-face experiences—not passive viewing.”
For teenagers using social media platforms, Asher pointed out additional concerns: “Adolescence is a time when the brain is deeply focused on social development and seeking acceptance from peers. Before social media, that feedback loop was limited to in-person interactions with a small group of peers. But now, through apps and platforms, teens are exposed to a constant, amplified stream of approval or disapproval on a much larger scale.” She warned this can lead to more stress and increase risks such as social anxiety or depression.
The type of device also matters. According to Asher: “Yes, the type of screen can make a difference. A lot of what’s called ‘educational content’ is often just labeled that way for marketing purposes… Watching content on a TV screen is generally safer—it’s farther from the eyes and doesn’t strain the neck or vision as much as phones or tablets.” She noted that streaming services may encourage longer viewing sessions compared with traditional television.
Screen-based learning at school also raises questions about retention compared with reading physical books. “We’ve found that when students read something from a book, they tend to retain the information better than when they read the same content on a screen,” said Asher. However, she acknowledged screens can be useful tools when used purposefully within group lessons led by teachers.
Some children are more sensitive than others to negative effects from screens—particularly those with ADHD symptoms or those experiencing anxiety or depression—and may need closer monitoring.
To help families set limits on technology use at home, Asher offered practical advice: “One of the most beneficial things parents can do is to ensure their children get at least two hours of physical activity each day… Another important tip is to delay giving your child a smartphone for as long as possible.”
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center operates in Los Angeles and has provided care since its founding in 1902. The hospital includes pediatric services and admitted over 50,000 patients in 2022 according to its annual report (https://www.cedars-sinai.org/about-us/annual-report.html). Thomas M. Priselac serves as its current president.
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